Ramen Roy, the advocate who represented Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in Bangladeshi court was brutally attacked by protesters and his house was ransacked, ISKCON claimed on Monday. The spiritual organisation said there is a growing danger against religious minorities in Bangladesh and has advised its followers to hide their identity.
In a post on social media platform X on Monday, Radharamn Das, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson said, “Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life. #SaveBangladeshiHindus FreeChinmoyKrishnaPrabhu.” Das also posted a picture of the lawyer undergoing critical care treatment.
Later, speaking to a Bengali news channel, Das said, “This brutal attack on advocate Roy is a direct consequence of his legal defence of Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu. It reflects the growing danger faced by those who defend the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh,” PTI reported.
Considering the increasing attacks against minorities, Das told PTI, “The situation in Bangladesh is alarming. The monks and devotees, who have been calling us, we have told them to hide their identity as ISKCON followers or monks publicly. We have asked them to practice their faith discreetly inside their homes or inside the temples. We have advised them to dress in a manner that does not draw attention.”
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Hindu monk Chinmay Krishna Das served as a spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote and was arrested on November 23 on charges of sedition. He was arrested from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while he was en route to Chattogram to attend a rally. Chinmoy was denied bail and he was sent to judicial custody.
India had condemned Das’s arrest and urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of religious minorities. Historically, Hindus made up approximately 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population during the 1971 Liberation War. However, the minority population declined over the years and now comprises only around 8 per cent of the country's total population.